Published: Jan. 11, 2014
Pat on the back for WFCA
In a time when the most common image that comes to mind when
it comes to football coaches is them screaming at the top of their lungs at a
player or a team, what the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association has done
deserves a round of applause.
This week, Dan Brunner, former football coach at Hartford
Union and the president of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, revealed
the plan which is now in front of the WIAA’s Board of Control.
The plan puts restrictions on preseason practices designed
to protect the student-athletes during the heat of summer. In a time when
football is perceived as a tough guy’s sport, for the coaches association to
step up and say this is something that needs to be done to protect the kids
deserves a lot of praise. In short, practices during the preseason camp can’t
exceed two consecutive hours without a 30-minute break. Then they are allowed
one hour max after the break. On every other day, teams can do a walkthrough
practice, lasting no more than an hour and in helmets only, after a three-hour
break.
In addition, there was a modification to the plan on getting
players acclimated to the equipment. Instead of being able to wear full pads
after three days, players have to wait five days before they can wear full pads
and start full-contact activities. The plan is designed to minimize injuries
and help teams get through the preseason as healthy as possible, which in turn,
could help teams retain players once the season starts.
Area coaches said it is getting harder to keep players
interested in football for an entire season, especially if a player quits
because he or she struggles with the intense heat and practice demands.
The increased awareness of concussion or head injuries and
heat exhaustion have prompted the WFCA to take a stand and make a statement
aimed at parents saying they have the kids’ best interest at heart.
A loss of a game can’t and won’t measure up to the loss of a
child.
For Wisconsin to be one of the pioneers in doing this, it
speaks volumes to the type of coaches this great state has in football.
Other states have rules like these in place, but not until
pressure from the governing association. The WFCA said it didn’t want to wait.
It wanted to make a change and take a stance and potentially save the life of a
child.
How can one not be appreciative of that?
Southern states like Texas and Florida, where high school
football is viewed on the same level as college or even pro football in some
cases, don’t have any rules like this in place. And the weather is far more
humid and strenuous than it is here.
Many coaches in Wisconsin are already doing this, but the
proposal by the WFCA, which appears destined to be passed by the WIAA and the
state’s athletic directors in the coming months, just makes sure it becomes
mandatory. You just can’t be sure if there is one bad egg out there who will do
everything he or she can to get the advantage. The coaches in high school
sports, especially in football, put so much time and effort into the sport with
very little reward.
To put something like this in place and make it mandatory is
a great step in the right direction. If it protects a life, how can you not be
on board with it? Otherwise, we’ll sit here regretting not making the move
sooner and wondering: what if ?
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